New PC build - advice?

I remember why I don't care about SLI upgrades again. The UD5H mainboard will run 2 PCIe 3.0 8x lanes for SLI, which is perfect for running 2 PCIe 2.0 16x lane cards in tandem. however the GTX 670 is true PCIe 3.0, therefore rendering SLI useless with this mainboard (for my build). so the extra watts on the rosewill 800 are really wasted. At $170 for a mainboard as feature-packed as the ud5h, its still tough to argue against.

I'm about half-assembled right now, and holy shit I forgot how much FUN this is!!!! Building the system is waaayyy better than shopping for parts. So much new stuff to play with since my last build which was like 2006. I think I can draw an honest parallel to feeling like a little kid at christmas! I'm sure the black clouds will start to roll when I find out one of my components is DOA, but so far so good

yeah, i've tried both sticks individually in all 4 slots, its definitely a Channel A thing. Amazon is taking the hit on a refund, and I just picked up a new board at Microcenter (only cost $9 more than Amazon)

Getting the speaker config on my Inspire T7700's to work with the onboard Realtek ALC898 on the UD5H board is going to cause me to drive a screwdriver through my eyesocket. or should I stick with the old Audigy 2 ZS PCI card?

I believe I've figured out my audio problem. My 7.1 cables have 4:3 connectors, the output side having Center and Sub together on a 4 pole 3.5mm jack, and the Rear and Side channels together on a 4 pole jack, front channel on its own 3 pole. My onboard sound on the UD5H takes a 4:4 configured cable where the rear / side channels have their own separate 3 pole jacks, and only center and sub are together on 1 jack. I've read some very positive reviews on the realtek 898, even above audigy 2 zs, so i think i'm gonna go for it. but i need a new cable(s).

Hmmm, don't go on the review, go on your ears, I still believe the sound quality on the Audigy will surpass that of the on-board.

NOPE!! i'm fucking done with Creative. I finally figured out the source of the cable dilemma, and its Creative proprietary bullshit all the way. So, I'm forced to use Audigy 2 ZS and its shitty unupdatable drivers forever, unless I buy ANOTHER creative brand soundcard???!!! I DONT THINK SO!!! Cause of problem (Creative), and solution found! Read this, and never buy creative products again.